Forgive my for not standing up and clapping, but pledging support now for Aung San Suu Kyi isn’t all that impressive. Imagine support, real support, during all the years she was imprisoned. We could have, should have done more, much more if we truly cared about human rights instead of worrying about our relationship with the Myanmar regime. In this case, a phone call is an inadequate measure of support.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton telephoned Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday, marking the first U.S. Cabinet-level conversation with the Nobel Peace laureate in more than 15 years, according to U.S. officials and Burma experts…

…Clinton wrote to Suu Kyi after the Burmese leader was released from house arrest in November and followed up with Wednesday’s call, in which she “pledged to support [Suu Kyi] in her efforts to strengthen civil society and democracy in Burma.”

This comment at the end of the article by Tom Malinowski, director of Human Rights Watch’s Washington office has it right:

“I’m very glad that Secretary Clinton reached out to Aung San Suu Kyi. It’s a good way of showing American solidarity with her. But ultimately, what Suu Kyi needs from the U.S. is action.”